JEFFERSON CITY — The full Senate today (1-19) considered and gave initial approval to Senate Bill 443, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton.  The legislation would change state law regarding the regulation of motor vehicles.

More specifically, the measure addresses intoxication-related traffic offenses by changing current state statute to comply with federal law, which allows courts and the Department of Revenue to issue limited driving privileges to repeat offenders for the purpose of driving to or from his or her place of employment, school, alcohol or drug treatment programs, and seeking the services of a certified ignition interlock device provider.  Limited driving privileges may not be granted for seeking medical treatment or other circumstances that create undue hardships for the driver.

Also, federal law does not authorize DWI courts as an alternative to mandatory jail or community service, currently laid out in Missouri state statute.  In order to comply with federal law, SB 443 would allow prior and persistent offenders to avoid the minimum days of imprisonment by performing community service and completing a DWI court program, if available.  The DWI court program or other treatment program must include the minimum periods of community service. 

In addition, the act specifies that a prior offender must perform at least 30 days consisting of 240 hours of community service and a persistent offender must perform at least 60 days consisting of 480 hours of community service.  Current state law allows a prior offender of an intoxication-related traffic offense to perform at least 30 days of community service as one condition of parole eligibility and a persistent offender to perform at least 60 days of community service.

The measure also addresses failure to appear in court regarding individuals holding commercial vehicle driver’s licenses, adds new definitions to the Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act, makes changes to current compliance guidelines for Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations, supports the implementation of the “Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL” federal rule, and implements a Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulation known as “Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL.”

A final passing vote by the full Senate would send SB 443 over to the House of Representatives for consideration.  Two other measures are on tap for debate in the Senate: Senate Bill 592, sponsored by Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, and Senate Bill 467, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown.

For other information about the Missouri Senate, including audio and video featuring Senate floor debate, committee hearings and other legislative events, visit the Senate Newsroom website at www.senate.mo.gov/newsroom.  You can contact the Senate Newsroom by calling (573) 751-3824 or emailing newsroom@senate.mo.gov.